Magistrate slams Premier

A Kingaroy magistrate last week issued a restraining order against Queensland Premier Dr (then Mr) Peter Beattie requiring him to stay at least 250 metres away from ailing former premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.
Police said the possibility Dr Beattie had broken the order would be considered in their investigation of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen's disappearance overnight from Kingaroy Base Hospital.
In making the order against Dr Beattie, Magistrate Bert Lino found the Premier had "repeatedly stalked" former state leader, Sir Joh.
Mr Lino said he had not seen a more blatant case of stalking in his 17 years on the bench.
He ordered the then Mr Beattie not to come within 250 metres of Sir Joh or Lady Flo and not to have any direct or indirect contact with them.
Sir Joh applied for the restraining order under Queensland's anti-stalking laws following a series of incidents he described as "unwelcome intrusions" into his personal life by Mr Beattie.
Giving evidence at last week's hearing while sitting in his wheelchair, Sir Joh claimed Dr Beattie had been stalking him since the Labor Party won government in 1998.
"Peter Beattie has been visiting me, inviting me to various events, and lauding me in the media at every turn," a frail Sir Joh told the court.
"He keeps on telling people what a wonderful premier I was and that his style of decision-making is just like mine.
"I don't mind compliments, but I don't think we're all that alike. He's a bit too far to the right for my liking."
Sir Joh told the court he had decided to seek the restraining order following an unpleasant incident earlier this year after he had fallen asleep on the veranda at Bethany after a morning cuppa and some of Lady Flo's famous bumpkin scones.
When he awoke, he discovered to his horror he was being wheeled around the new Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane by Dr Beattie in front of TV news crews and other media representatives.
"Luckily, Flo witnessed the whole thing from our kitchen, where she was whipping up a fresh batch of scones for lunch," he said.
"A helicopter landed in the front yard, several men jumped out and packed me, wheelchair and all, into the chopper.
"Flo demanded to get on board too and that's how we ended up at Lang Park being greeted by Peter Beattie and the waiting media.
"He wheeled me around the whole stadium and spoke like we were old friends. I was scared witless, and so was Flo.
"The man's a pest and shouldn't be allowed to continue annoying me and Flo."
Outside the Kingaroy Court House last week, Dr Beattie said he was extremely disappointed by the outcome and the former premier's attitude towards him.
"If that's what he thinks of me, then I'll definitely be rethinking my plan to nominate him and Flo for life membership of the Labor Party," he said.

A LITANY OF COMPLAINTS

In his affidavit to the court, Sir Johannes also alleged:
o he had woken on on more than six occasions to find himself being wheeled around country shows by Dr Beattie in marginal Labor seats formerly held by the Nationals,
o Premier Beattie had made repeated unannounced visits to Kingaroy to ask whether Sir Joh objected to his plan for the ALP to campaign at the next state election under the slogan: "Just Like Joh!",
o the Premier phoned him late one night saying he and his wife Heather were thinking of getting companions for their pet dog Rusty, and would he mind if they called them Johannes and Florence,
o when his request was denied, the Premier had phoned back asking if the animals could be named Beth and Annie.